HC Deb 26 May 1989 vol 153 cc753-5W
Ms. Mowlam

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for the Department of Social Security local offices of Eston, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Stockton what statistical information he has as to the different reasons given to applicants by social fund officers for nil awards in respect of applications for community care grants.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

[holding answer 17 May 1989]: Provisional information is provided in the table, which gives the number of times that a reason for decision is used by social fund officers for determining a nil award for community care grants.

An application can be refused for more than one reason. The total number of decisions used will be equal to or greater than the number of applications refused. Information on the numbers of applications processed and awards is available in the Library.

Mr. Renton

Some 3,000 passports have been extended under these arrangements since the measure was put into effect on 19 May. The work load on the main passport-issuing system has been reduced by a corresponding amount, but it is too early to measure the impact of the new procedure on overall turnround times. The demand for passports is now at its peak, and priority is being given to urgent applications, and those showing an early date of travel.

Mr. Gordon Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passports were issued by the Glasgow passport office in each of the five years prior to full computerisation of the passport issuing computer system; and how many passports he estimates will be issued in its first full year of operation.

Mr. Renton

[holding answer 25 May 1989]: The Glasgow passport office began computerised operation in August 1988. The number of passports issued during the preceding five calendar years is as follows:

New passports
Year Number
1983 182,386
1984 146,123
1985 137,098
1986 159,954
1987 159,723

It is estimated that some 189,000 new passports will be issued from Glasgow during the first full year of computerised operation up to the end of July 1989. This includes postal applications transferred from the London passport office under the dispersal programme. The demand for passports is currently at its peak, and priority is being given to urgent applications, and those showing an early date of travel.